Battle of the Former Hartford Anchors
The cast of “Morning Joe” was flown all the way out to California for a morning TV critics winter press tour panel to tout their MSNBC success. Though it was…
Tuesday TV: ‘Billy the Kid’ and Other Outlaws
The new portrait of “Billy the Kid” on “American Experience” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings), part of the show’s focus on the Wild West, brings out some unfamiliar facts…
‘Idol’ Dismisses, Disses ‘X Factor,’ ‘The Voice’
As season 11 approaches for “American Idol,” its stars and producers are finding themselves doing something different: Defending itself from the crush of other, popular singing competitions – both “The…
Face to Face with Charlie Sheen
When Charlie Sheen turned around with a big gold-toothy smile, my first instinct was to seek an apology for the two (!) live appearances I was assigned to cover last…
J.J. Abrams Says ‘Alcatraz’ A Different Island Than ‘Lost’
J.J. Abrams’ new series has an island, a time-traveling intrigue and Jorge Garcia. But the new “Alcatraz,” his new show starting next week about prisoners from that fabled prison who…
Kiefer Sutherland a ‘Touch’ Away from ’24’
Kiefer Sutherland wasn’t keen to return to TV after eight seasons and 200 episodes of the iconic series “24.” Then someone handed him a script while he was on Broadway…
Monday TV: BCS Bowl, CBS Morning Retool
The college football season, and the parade of bowl games, finally culminates in the BCS Championship Game (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.) in New Orleans, with No.1 LSU vs. No.2 Alabama. The…
‘Watch What Happens Live’ Goes Five Nights a Week
When it came time to expand the late night Bravo talk show “Watch What Happens Live,” the first thing host Andy Cohen had done was expanding the liquor options. “We…
Coping with Failure at NBC
In his short time as NBC enertainment chief, Robert Greenblatt has gotten used to the pattern of its network’s executive sessions : They start with confessions, admitting failure and apology.…
On Tonight: Going Back ‘Downton’
Here’s the show you’ve been waiting for: “Downton Abbey,” the elegant but frothy series at about an English manor house (that seems more of a castle) from the early 20th…